Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-07-15
A GREAT MANS HOME.
How Allen G.. Thurman Passes Ills
Time Away at columbus.

Time Away at oIumbus.
The capital of Ohio is the sleepy.
-bcriddcn town of Columbus. Were
it not for the annual influx of legisla-
tors and their attendant evils, writes a
correspondent of The NeiO York MAJ
and Express, there would be no good
reason for lis continued existence. Like
many other capitals. it sleeps quietly
for months, the gras grows between
the pavements and its homes and
streets are deserted. Like every other
town, however. it has its pecul arities,
which are more or less characteristic of
the people. To instances the pol
men carry umbrellas when it rains or
the sun is very hot, and il you ask
them they will step inside and
take a glass of beer with you. But
aside from this there is moth NJ very
interesting. 1t is not surprisingly
beautiful. 1t has no traditions worthy
the name, and its business is almost
nothing. When you speak of Column
bus you almost instinctvcly think of it
as the home of Allen G.. Thurman.
! You do not think Of him "a living there;
| YOU rather think of it rs his home.
You Will probably say that this is e
d stinction without a Il ference. Prob.
ably so: but think moment and YOU
will see where the difference lies. 1t
is said that no man is hero to his
neighbors to the people he has been
associated with all his life, This is an
adage, but, like most adages, it is not
true in every intance. Certainly it is
not true as regards Mr.. Thurman. No
man is loved more in his home than
this retired statesman. The people of
his adopted city look upon him as the
greatest and best of men, and il would
be hard to find a cit Zen who would
speak harshly of him, even though he
differed from him in his political views.
Thurman lives on East Rich street,
in one of the pleasantest portions OF
the city. The house is built partially OF
stone, with a white marble front and
brick des. 1t is three stories in height.
with sloping tiled roof and dormer
windows. You enter the house by way
of the Rich street front. Ascending
the three or four marble steps, you pass
into a square vestibule. Pressing the
electric bell to the left you soon stand
face to face with pretty IRISH girl with
rosy cheeks and dancing eyes. In the
rich brogue of Er n she invites you in.
To the right are the parlors. The
rooms are divided by heavy. dark EN-.
broidered portieres. The front parloI
is also the reception-room. aud here,
after dinner. you viii almost always
find goodly assemblage of visitors
some strangers, some residents of the
city. Thurman keeps open house, and
every one is welcome to call. and
nearly everyone who stops at
Columbus CONS to see him. The back
parlor is really the sittng-room, and
here you will almost invariably find
Mrs Thurman, a whte-haired, matron-
ly-lookng lady, with knitting in hand.
Upstairs on the second floor, is the
study of the master of the house.
This is the den where | hide mysel
from the world" said Mr. Thurman,
''after the work of the day is over, and
the house is quiet like to come hero
and read. Yes, l keep up my old
Washington hours. seldom retire be-
fore 10 o'clock, and it is more frequent
~ before l am asleep"
The study is one of the most com.
Portable of rooms. The floor is cover.
cred by thick Brussels carpets and
rugs. 1t is. perhaps, the largest room
in the house. In front of the window
is one of the largest and most comfort.
able of arm chairs, and on the marble
mantel flowers are always in bloom.
There are no pictures oh the wall save
one: that is very fine engraving of
the United States capitol at Washing
There are plenty of books. They are
arranged in no order. Here volume
of law presses dainty poem, and there
a set of Chambers Encyclopedia lie
next to The Congressional Record, o.
which the judge has full set.
From the open window of the library
you have full view of the magnificent
lawn which lies TO the left and which
separates the residence of Mr.. Thur
man from that of his married son.
During warm weather passers by often
see charming home picture. The
judge is very fond of his three it'll,
grandchidren,a and often after he re.
turns from Office he may be seen play
ing with them on the grass under the
trees.
PaIinC frny,o fha pa1